MONTPELIER - The Vermont Department of Emergency Management is going to be activating the state's Emergency Operations Center to prepare for possible flooding forecast for the region.

The National Weather Service today issued a flood watch for most of Vermont, upstate New York and surrounding states.

The forecast in Vermont calls for the rain to begin falling late today. Heavy rain is forecast through Friday with up to 4 inches in parts of the state. Since the ground is already saturated much of the rain could run directly into rivers and streams.

Emergency Management spokesman Mark Bosma says the operations center will be staffed beginning at 6:30 p.m. State officials will be prepared to help local officials across Vermont who would be the first to respond to flooding.